Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Recently, Troup High School earned the honor of Gold Chapter of Distinction from SkillsUSA. They are one of nine schools across the state to earn the honor, according to a news release from the Troup County School System.

It took about a year of preparation and planning for the THS Chapter to achieve Gold Distinction. During this time, students planned activities like setting SMART goals, establishing budgets, and securing funding. For the competition, participants chose one activity that supported one area of the SkillsUSA Framework: personal skills, workplace skills, or technical skills grounded in academics. After completing the application process, SkillsUSA judges selected the chapters that have excelled.

Devon Cushing is a senior at THS and National Region II Vice President of SkillsUSA.

“It feels amazing to know that we represented our school well,” Cushing said. “We have worked super hard to receive this award. Our chapter created, planned and organized amazing projects alongside our advisor Amy Hicks, who is the best of the best.”

Hicks has been the SkillsUSA Chapter advisor for almost 20 years. She has seen where they have only had three members but now they average about 50 members each year.

“SkillsUSA is such a wonderful way for the students to grow professionally as they perfect their leadership and technical skills,” Hicks said. “They are prepared to enter the workforce directly from high school with the training they receive in the classroom.”